When the system forgets you, holding on becomes an act of rebellion. Seventy‑six‑year‑old Dario Esposito wakes in a long‑term care facility with no memory of how he got there. Green Acres is a place shaped by Medicare rules, understaffed caregivers, and the quiet pressure to comply. As Dario fights to hold on to his identity, he uncovers the emotional and psychological cost of life inside a modern healthcare institution. Navigating shifting routines, clipped conversations, and the subtle erosion of autonomy, Dario meets residents and staff who reveal the hidden logic of the system. The Colonel — sharp‑eyed, battle‑scarred, and impossible to ignore — becomes an unlikely guide through the institutional maze. Together, they confront the tension between compassion and efficiency, survival and surrender, humanity and the machinery of care. Blending dark humor with emotional depth, Counting the Days of Our Lives explores aging, memory, resilience, and the human impact of institutional structures. It exposes what happens when a person becomes a case file, a bed number, or a task on a clipboard — and how small acts of connection can become acts of resistance. Perfect for readers of literary fiction, psychological fiction, medical‑institution fiction, and stories about aging, identity, and survival inside complex systems. This novel resonates with anyone who has experienced long‑term care, worked in healthcare, or witnessed the quiet battles fought behind institutional doors.
